Chair and Chair Covering

ABSTRACT

A chair covering includes a main frame and a mesh-like support member. The chair covering is a seat covering, backrest covering, or head covering. The main frame includes a first frame and a second frame, wherein the material of the first frame is softer than that of the second frame. The periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted between the connection portions of the first frame and the second frame, an appropriated portion of the first frame, or an appropriated portion of the second frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a chair covering having a mesh-like support member, wherein the chair covering is a seat covering, a backrest covering or a head covering.

2. Description of the Related Art

Nowadays, mesh-like support members are applied to more and more seat coverings, backrest coverings or head coverings of chairs. A mesh-like support member is a covering having a plurality of holes or a plurality of long-shaped slotted holes. Accordingly, the mesh-like support member provides ventilation effect. Further, because the mesh-like support member can provide appropriate elasticity, no more heavy cushion is required; therefore, the mesh-like support member is also eco-friendly.

The structure of mounting the mesh-like support member to a frame is very important because firmness of the mesh-like support member and manufacturing efficiency of a chair are all involved in the structure.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,842 (Backrest), the mesh-like support member is mounted to a one-piece carrier member, and then the carrier member is mounted to a frame.

In U.S. Pat. No. 7,096,549 (Carrier and attachment method for load-bearing fabric), the mesh-like support member is also mounted to a carrier, and then the carrier is mounted to a frame.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,861 (Structure of a mesh back of a chair), the mesh-like support member is positioned over and secured on a loop-shaped frame having left and right upright portions.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,665 (Ergonomic chair with mesh seat and back) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,190 (Chair having a seat with differential front and rear support portions), the mesh-like support member is engaged with a frame.

However, none of the abovementioned prior art patents provides a structure capable of directly mounting the mesh-like support member to a frame, wherein the frame comprises a soft frame and a hard frame. Further, none of the abovementioned prior art patents provides a one-piece frame having both the soft frame and the hard frame with the mesh-like support member mounted to the frame as well.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a chair and chair covering to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure capable of mounting a mesh-like support member to a main frame to increase manufacturing efficiency.

To achieve the aforementioned object, a chair covering of the present invention includes a main frame and a mesh-like support member. The chair covering is a seat covering, a backrest covering or a head covering.

The main frame includes a first frame and a second frame, wherein material of the first frame is softer than material of the second frame. The first frame utilizes softer material because an user would directly touch the first frame; therefore, the user could feel more comfortable with the softer material. The second frame utilizes harder material to support the shape of the main frame, as well as to bear the user's weight.

The periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted between connection portions of the first frame and the second frame, an appropriate portion of the first frame, or an appropriate portion of the second frame. When molding the first frame and the second frame, the present invention mounts the periphery of the mesh-like support member to the main frame at the same time.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for purposes of illustration only, and not as a definition of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing an appearance a chair and chair covering of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a cross-sectional drawing of the chair covering (a seat covering, a backrest covering or a head covering) according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a cross-sectional drawing of the chair covering (a seat covering, a backrest covering or a head covering) according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a third embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a cross-sectional drawing of the chair covering (a seat covering, a backrest covering or a head covering) according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic drawing showing an appearance a chair and chair covering of the present invention. The chair covering 10 of the present invention can be a backrest covering 5, a seat covering 6 or a head covering 7 of a chair 1. The chair covering 10 comprises a main frame 20 and a mesh-like support member 50. In this embodiment, the mesh-like support member 50 is a covering having a plurality of holes or a plurality of long-shaped slotted holes. Accordingly, the mesh-like support member 50 is a covering with good ventilation effect. In the present invention, there are three preferred embodiments respectively illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

Please refer to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 2 is the first embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a cross-sectional drawing of the chair covering according to FIG. 1.

The main frame 20 includes a first frame 30 and a second frame 40, wherein the material of the first frame 30 is softer than the material of the second frame 40.

The first frame 30 includes a first outer side 31 and a first joint face 32. The first frame 30 utilizes softer material because a user would directly touch the first outer side 31 of the first frame 30; therefore, the user could feel more comfortable with the softer material. For example, the material of the first frame 30 is thermoplastic rubber, polyurethane, soft thermoplastic elastomer, or the like.

The second frame 40 includes a second outer side 41 and a second joint face 42. The material of the second frame 40 is harder than that of the first frame 30, such that the second frame 40 can better support the shape of the main frame 20, as well as can bear the user's weight. The material of the second frame 40 is polypropylene, polyamidefiber, their composite materials, or other harder plastics.

The mesh-like support member 50 comprises a periphery 51. The periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 is mounted to the main frame 20. Please refer to FIG. 2, in the first embodiment, the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 is mounted between the first joint face 32 and the second joint face 42. Further, the first joint face 32 and the second joint face 42 are combined with each other, and the first joint face 32 and the second joint face 42 are substantially smooth surfaces (such as flat surfaces or curved surfaces).

When manufacturing a chair covering 10, it is preferable to mold the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 into one piece, and to place the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 between the first joint face 32 and the second joint face 42 when molding. Therefore, when the present invention molds the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 into one piece, the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 can be mounted to the main frame 20 at the same time. As a result, the mesh-like support member 50 be firmly mounted to the main frame 20, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced because of higher manufacturing efficiency.

Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a cross-sectional drawing of the chair covering 10 a according to FIG. 1. The major difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 is mounted within the first frame 30. When manufacturing the chair covering 10 a of the second embodiment, it is preferable to mold the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 into one piece, and to place the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 in an appropriate portion of the first frame 30 when molding. Therefore, when the present invention molds the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 into one piece, the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 can be mounted to the first frame 30 at the same time.

Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a third embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a cross-sectional drawing of the chair covering 10 b according to FIG. 1. The major difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 is mounted within the second frame 40. When manufacturing the chair covering 10 b of the third embodiment, it is preferable to mold the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 into one piece, and to place the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 in an appropriate portion of the second frame 40 when molding. Therefore, when the present invention molds the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 into one piece, the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 can be mounted to the second frame 40 at the same time.

The abovementioned three embodiments have slightly different effects as follows:

In the second embodiment, the periphery 51 of the mesh-like support member 50 of the chair covering 10 a is placed in an appropriate portion of the first frame 30. Because the first frame 30 utilizes the softer material, the mesh-like support member 50 would result in more deformation when being pressured.

While in the first and third embodiments, the mesh-like support member 50 would result in less deformation when being pressured because the second frame 40 could directly bear the pressure.

Further, although the cross-sectional drawings illustrated in FIGS. 2˜4 correspond to the seat covering 6 in FIG. 1, please note that either the backrest covering 5 or the head covering 7 has the same cross-sectional drawings as illustrated in FIGS. 2˜4.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A chair covering, comprising: a main frame, comprising: a first frame, including a first outer side and a first joint face; and a second frame, including a second outer side and a second joint face, wherein the second joint face of the second frame is combined with the first joint face of the first frame, and material of the first frame is softer than material of the second frame; and a mesh-like support member, including a periphery, wherein the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted to the main frame.
 2. The chair covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted between the first joint face and the second joint face.
 3. The chair covering as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first joint face and the second joint face are substantially smooth surfaces.
 4. The chair covering as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first frame and the second frame are in one piece, and the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted to the main frame at the time the first frame and the second frame are molded.
 5. The chair covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted within the first frame.
 6. The chair covering as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first joint face and the second joint face are substantially smooth surfaces.
 7. The chair covering as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first frame and the second frame are in one piece, and the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted to the main frame at the time the first frame and the second frame are molded.
 8. The chair covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted within the second frame.
 9. The chair covering as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first joint face and the second joint face are substantially smooth surfaces.
 10. The chair covering as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first frame and the second frame are in one piece, and the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted to the main frame at the time the first frame and the second frame are molded.
 11. A chair, characterized in that the chair comprises a chair covering as claimed in claims
 1. 12. The chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted between the first joint face and the second joint face.
 13. The chair as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first joint face and the second joint face are substantially smooth surfaces.
 14. The chair as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first frame and the second frame are in one piece, and the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted to the main frame at the time the first frame and the second frame are molded.
 15. The chair as claimed in claim 11, wherein the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted within the first frame.
 16. The chair as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first joint face and the second joint face are substantially smooth surfaces.
 17. The chair as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first frame and the second frame are in one piece, and the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted to the main frame at the time the first frame and the second frame are molded.
 18. The chair as claimed in claim 11, wherein the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted within the second frame.
 19. The chair as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first joint face and the second joint face are substantially smooth surfaces.
 20. The chair as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first frame and the second frame are in one piece, and the periphery of the mesh-like support member is mounted to the main frame at the time the first frame and the second frame are molded. 